Friday, November 30, 2007

Netflix for Books? Maybe! Or Just Go to the Library

Read bestsellers for less. That's the idea behind a book rental plan that works like Netflix. It's called Bookswim.com and the service was featured in the November issue of Real Simple magazine.

The plan works like this: Bestsellers and other titles, including classics, are available for a monthly fee. You can rent two books at a time for a monthly fee of $15. ( You can read as many titles as you want during the month, but are limited to two books at a time.) Or up to 11 books at a time for $36 a month. No shipping fees and no late fees, which can add up at the free public library if you're not organized. The library is still the cheapest option for bookworms.

But here are my other favorite sources for frugal books:

  • garage sales
  • thrift & used bookstores
  • friends & families
  • informal lending libraries in building lobbies, lounges, etc: Take a book/Leave a Book
  • remainders tables at bookstores
  • Community book fairs. I've found great bargains on the last day of street fair/book fairs. The vendors heavily markdown their merchandise
  • sidewalk sales
  • half.com
  • eBay.com
  • amazon.com
  • hospital, library and other non-profit book sales
  • Craig's list
  • freecycle.org
  • estate sales
  • curb-side cast offs

Here is a great piece on tapping into used book stores: From Brip Blap: Saving Money on Books and here is a piece about New & Cheap Books!



And finally, here is a short list of a few of my most popular posts for the week:

10 Signs of Secret Debt: Borrowing Money, But Deny...

Medical Tourists: A Near-Fatality & A Waitress Who...


Be a Gypsy in an RV: Late Bloomers Guide to Saving...

16 Odd & Useful Storage Ideas: .

Beyond Bag Ladies: Financial Road Kill Dangers

10 Reasons Why I'll Work at Starbucks:






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10 Signs of Secret Debt: Borrowing Money, But Denying Reality

Debt can hide like a chameleon. That's because Secret Debt is like Secret Sadness, a term I first encountered in a women's magazine. The concept works like this: Sometimes we fall deep into a pit (about money or emotions), but still believe we are walking on clouds.

I've done that routine. I've walked around feeling as if my accounts are all balanced, when in fact I've secretly mourned a major (emotional or monetary) loss. That disconnect can throw me into a deeper pit of debt over the long run. And I have friends and peers who have done the same. We all have moments of blindness, either willful or partial blindness.


But here are 10 signs I now use as flags to let me know that I need a reality check or a financial tune-up. These debt flags indicate if we're either over-spending or under-earning. I've put together the list after reading Why Women Earn Less by Mikelann R. Valterra and The Weekend Millionaire Mindset by Mike Summey and Roger Dawson.


10 Forms of Secret Debt

  • Tapping Retirement Plans: If you are borrowing money from your 401k Plan, IRA or any other investment accounts, there's a glitch in your financial matrix. "When you borrow from your investments, you do not have to face up to the truth that you are not making enough money." --Why Women Earn Less by Mikelann R. Valterra
  • Credit Card Balances: Carrying a month-to-month balance pulls us deeper into debt. What's more using, credit cards to pay basic bills is a form of "destructive debt" if the balance is not paid in full each month. It's destructive to carry balances on credit cards for stuff that depreciates quickly, according to Weekend Millionaire Mindset
  • Family & Friends: If you're always tapping that network, it's time to get plugged into reality. When I have to rely on my parents, siblings or friends for a financial fix, I know that it's time take new action.
  • Big-Ticket Debt: If you're not borrowing to make money, the new debt could slide you into a bigger hole, according to Weekend Millionaire Mindset : "Debt to acquire cars, boats, campers, motorcycles, furniture or other large ticket items that are not used to generate income are additional examples of destructive debt."-- Weekend Millionaire Mindset
  • Long-term Savings Accounts: When I have to tap long-term savings accounts to fix day-to-day budget gaps that's a warning flag. As a safety net, I like the idea of having special accounts for large purchases, vacations and emergencies. But I really believe that long-term savings, investment accounts and retirement funds should not be tapped for trinkets and basics.
  • Home-equity loans: To borrow against the home to pay for creature comforts and vacations seems shady to me. However, borrowing against a home to pay for education or to finance a business is a good investment, according to financial planners that I have interviewed.
  • Children's Savings Accounts: Borrowing from the kids is another red flag.
  • Bounced Check Overdraft Protection: An expensive red flag.
  • Salary Advances: A lot of company's are flexible about advancing paychecks. It's a convenient move, but another red flag. The salary borrowed today, is gone by payday.
  • Borrowing Time: When I feel pressed to work around the clock to pay off bills or other obligations, that's a major warning sign. Sure, I'm not borrowing money from an institution or a person, but I'm borrowing time from my life. There's major evidence linking financial stress, long hours and sleep deprivation to major illnesses. Here's a piece linking the graveyard shift to cancer.
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My Favorite Picks from the 102 Festival of Frugality

Cheap Healthy Good has done an excellent job as host of the 102nd Festival of Frugality. I love the organization, the songs and the comments.

The festival is filled with lots of great tips. Here are a few posts that caught my eye:


From Frugal Journey: Organized and Be Frugal. This is a great post about how lists, calendars and general organization can save lots of money.


From A Penny Saved: Embracing the Simple Joy of Freebies. Great tips for tapping into the world of give-aways.

From Brip Blap: Saving Money on Books. A very thoughtful post about books, frugal living and literacy. I love the part about investing in books for children.

From Home Life Weekly: How to Bid to Win on eBay and Save a Fortune. eBay bidding 101! Excellent tips.

From Finance and Fat: #5: Live Below Your Means. I loved this piece and this series, which is filled great insights and hard truths about consumption, earning and saving.

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Thursday, November 29, 2007

Medical Tourists: A Near-Fatality & A Waitress Who Goes to Germany for Dental Work

Flying to Germany to fix a tooth? That's the medical tourism story I heard from an uninsured waitress in Miami. We met repeatedly while commuting on the bus. She's a very frugal German, who carefully counts her money and budgets for expenses.

She's either in her late 20s or early 30s (I didn't ask) and she can't afford health insurance or health care in this country. Her solution: She delays her medical and dental work until her annual visits back home to visit her parents in Germany where she has access to affordable care.

However, one time when we met on the bus, the waitress had a swollen mouth and a toothache that couldn't wait for a visit back to Europe. She finally managed to get an appointment at a clinic after a bit of pleading. By that point, however, she was in a lot of pain and instead of getting a crown or elaborate work--beyond her budget--she opted to just have the tooth pulled. That still cost about $150-$200. (I don't remember the exact price, but I remember thinking that it was not cheap.)

But in general, her fly-away-to-Europe health plan works for her.

Gastro-Surgery in the Caribbean.

My other friend, however, nearly died after weight-loss bypass surgery in the Caribbean. After a lot of research, she went to a state-of-the-art facility and selected a doctor who had a sterling reputation in the field.


But during the bypass surgery, her pancreas was punctured. Given the risks associated with that procedure, the accident could have happened anywhere. But the medical facility in the Caribbean was not equipped to handle her medical emergency.



Bottom line: Her family had to pay to have her air-lifted by an ambulance plane from the Caribbean to Miami. The episode was near-fatal and she spent a month recovering in a South Florida hospital.

She initially saved a huge sum of money by electing to have the surgery done outside of the U.S., but the procedure ultimately cost more in the long run. What's more, she had trouble getting justice and answers from the foreign doctor, who was beyond the reach of the U.S. legal system.

Another friend who travels in and out of Argentina has had much better luck, with awesome savings as a medical tourist. She's been impressed with the high level of care and the low price of medical treatments in Argentina. I wrote about her story in this post.




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Foreclosure Ripples: Where Home Prices will Drop Most: A Report

The cost of foreclosed properties hits entire communities. The average home (near a foreclosed property) will lose about $5,000 in value, according to a new study from the Center for Responsible Lending .

American families NOT facing foreclosure will see the value of their homes decline by an estimated $265 billion because of the ripple effect 2.2 million foreclosures would have in diminishing prices of surrounding homes.

A city can lose up to nearly $20,000 a year in lost property taxes and other costs for every property abandoned by foreclosure.

--Center for Responsible Lending



Here’s their state list, which is ranked on the estimated dollar value of home price declines. You can go to the Center’s website and click on: by State & Local Market.

Here's a quick summary from the report.

"Subprime Spillover: Foreclosures Cost Neighbors

• 44.5 million neighboring homes will experience devaluation because of subprime foreclosures that take place nearby.

• Homeowners living near foreclosed properties will see their property values decrease $5,000 on average.

Foreclosure Effect

..................... # Homes devalued...........Drop in House Values/Tax

California.........................8,396,887..............................$67.6 billion

New York........................3,945,030.............................$40.7 billion

Florida ............................4,318,020..............................$23.5 billion

Illinois..............................2,871,480..............................$17.5 billion

New Jersey.....................1,883,257..............................$11.9 billion

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Be a Gypsy in an RV: Late Bloomers Guide to Savings: Pt. 4

Why own a house? Why live in a market-crashing condo? Why rent an apartment when you can own an RV and travel around for the best employment opportunities? That's one money-saving, income-generating strategy used by 71-year-old Dottie Soracco of Oregon, according to an article by Julie Connelly for AARP magazine .



With only $750 a month in Social Security and $165,000 in an IRA, Dottie has to work, according to the AARP story. Her previous work schedule represented another of my nightmares: namely, that as a senior citizen, I would have to work around the clock in a series of low-paying, under-performing jobs that would make me feel like a hamster on a wheel: Spinning for a small stipend and getting nowhere fast!


Consider the evidence: Prior to adopting a gypsy life, Dottie earned $12,000 working these part-time gigs:


  • flu clinic administrator

  • tv commercial actress (Hey, she was even in movie Prince of Tides from 1991)

  • Kelly Service Temp

She slaved away at those jobs and owned a condo in Atlanta. Then she purchased an RV and became a gypsy...just traveling and driving to where the best jobs were anywhere in the country. In 2006, for instance, while she was temping, a company offered her a staff position. The catch: The job was in the state of Washington. No problem! With an RV, financed for $323 a month, she's very mobile.

"I guess I am just a gypsy at heart," she told AARP.


I have my own version of the retired gypsy fantasy. Here's my version:


  • Writers Colonies. There are assorted writers colonies around the country where you can live free, cheap or even receive a paid stipend or a grant. It's like applying for college and if your application is accepted, you receive a room, an apartment or a studio. Poets & Writers magazine, a great source for writers, features these programs. Many of the colonies are year-round and I've read about a few writers who just travel from colony to colony, living almost rent-free. Here's a link to grants, conference and other resources for writers.

  • Speakers Tour: With friends and family all over the country and even abroad, I could travel around, give speeches and collect stipends. I'd shill myself for a gypsy life like that.

  • Writer-in-Residence/Expert-in-Residence: Disney World, colleges, community centers all have various adult learning programs. These programs work with a staff of specialists in many fields. The Disney Institute and the Disney cruises seek out experts in different fields. Likewise, I have friends who have traded their areas of expertise for hotel stays and cruise ship trips.

  • Live on a Cruise Ship: That's another fantasy of mine: Every Monday in Nassau, Tuesdays in St. Bart or some other island. I could work in a casino, the coffee bar or teach some kind of craft program. I could really live on Paradise Island.
  • Craft shows: One of my best, best friends from childhood makes a comfortable living selling hand-made art at craft shows around the country.

Meanwhile, it's never to late to save, but there are a few helpful tips for those of us playing catch-up. While visiting my parents, I found a copy of AARP magazine which had some great tips for late-starters in the savings game. Basically, the article (from the Sept./Oct 2007 edition) featured several individuals (ages 50-60) who had not saved too much in the past. I'm writing a series of posts based on the strategies featured in the magazine.

Here's Part 1 of this series.Top Tip: No more recreational shopping at the mall!

Part 2: Tapping a Side Business for Savings: Late Bloomers... Top Tip: Develop a small business for extra income.

Part 3: 10 Reasons Why I'll Work at Starbucks: Late Bloome...





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Wednesday, November 28, 2007

My Friends, The Medical Tourists: Read Their Stories Here

I have three friends who are medical tourists. These women can periodically fly abroad, but could not afford regular health care in this country. Two of them women are white; one is from the Caribbean. Ages 30-58. Two of them had big successes; one almost died.

Here are their stories.

Dental and Full Health Care in Argentina

I have a 58-year-old friend who was born in Argentina to Polish parents. She still has lots of friends there. She recently showed up at my dinner table with new adult braces. They are hidden braces behind her teeth.

For a total of $3,000 she had about $9,000 worth of dental work done in Argentina. Here's what she had done:

  • Porcelain veneers on a few teeth
  • Five crowns
  • Adult, hidden braces. "These are very expensive," she said.
  • A few tooth implants

"I had extensive work done," she said. She was also very impressed with the technology. Instead of the old-school x-rays that she has seen in most dental offices in the States, her dentist in Argentina examined her teeth with a digital camera linked to a computer.

Her plane ticket was $780 and she could have spent only $450 for a round trip ticket to Argentina. However, she was not able to get the cheaper ticket because of a time crunch.

Meanwhile, she spent a total of $400 for a comprehensive physical, two appointments, blood work and a five-page report about her health.

This is what she received for $400

  • two gyn visits
  • mammogram
  • internal (vaginal area) sonogram
  • bone density test
  • blood and urine analysis

She estimates that in the U.S., she would have paid $400 for just two doctors visits, but without the full battery of tests.

The Downside:

I asked her about kidnapping fears and she said yes that can be an issue in Argentina. But she knows which areas to avoid, and she dressed correctly. A friend in that country chided her for wearing an expensive watch in the street. But she's not worried about traveling to South America for health care: Besides, she told me, kidnapping is a risk anywhere, including Miami.

Why Medical Tourism works for her

  • She always visits Argentina anyway.
  • She's lived there.
  • She has friends who are familiar with the medical system in that country. "I requested recommendations from my friends for doctors and dentists," she told me.
  • Combining a vacation with a medical tune-up works because she can afford a plane ticket, but can not afford the cost of insurance or health care in the U.S.

Gastro-Bypass in the Caribbean

Another friend of mine--born in the Caribbean, living in the States--had weight-loss bypass surgery at a state-of-the art facility in the Caribbean. She did her homework and found a doctor that came with pedigree and recommendations. The price was right, but complications developed and she almost died.

Either later tonight or tomorrow, I'll have the rest of the story and the tale of a German waitress in Miami, who flies home to Europe for medical care.


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16 Odd & Useful Storage Ideas: A Pro Organizer Speaks Out



One woman has turned her closet into a shrine for her dead husband. That's one of the tips (#10), I received after I wrote about the sports collection in my spare shower stall. The following list of 16 Space Savers is a guest post from professional organizer Suzy Wilkoff of Tasks Unlimited:


16 Wacky but Worthy Space Savers


By Suzy Wilkoff

Kitchen:


1) Dishing: If people don't use the dishwasher, because they wash dishes by hand, the dishwasher can be a catch-all for kitchen items, particularly another set of dishes! Keep the door locked at all times, so no one places dirty dishes inside.

2) Refrigerator vs Cupboard: Instead of storing items like canned tuna in the cupboard-- if your refrigerator is not overflowing, but your cupboard is -- store goods that are eventually going to be refrigerated in the refrigerator. That frees up the cupboard so that non-refrigerated items are more visible.

3) Fill the Gaps! If there is space between a big appliance (i.e, the refrigerator and the wall), store trays that may be too long for cupboards/cabinets in those long vertical spaces.
Bathroom:


4) Stalled Gaps: If there is space between the top of the stall and the ceiling and if the frame is wide enough on top, use the space to store sponges, brushes and/or shampoo bottles.

5) Happy Hook-ups: Hooks can be affixed inside under-the-sink cabinets to hang ponytail
holders, dry shower caps, etc.

Door knobs:

6) DIY Art Gallery: Long, thin, vertical hanging art pieces (crafts and/or ceramic pieces) can be hung from door knobs instead of on walls, depending on the size and materials they were
made of.

Window sills:

7) DIY Zoo: Especially in children's rooms, small stuffed animals (like Beanie Babies) can be displayed on the windowsills, if they have been cluttering other areas. That may make the toys more visibly appealing to the child.

Closets:


8) Into the Closet: If clothes closets aren't housing clothing, they can house filing cabinets and bookshelves.

9) Purse Snatchers: I hang my purses/handbags on clothing hangers in a closet, and they are more visible than placing them on a more conventional shelf.

10) Closet Memorial: I worked with a client who turned a shelf in her clothes closet into a shrine for her recently deceased husband. She placed small memorabilia on the shelf. Only she would see it, but it was nice for her to have it visible, rather than in a box in storage.

Fireplace:

11) Collection Display: Many unused fireplaces could be turned into attractive displays of vases, ceramic collections or sports memorabilia.

Balcony/Patio:

12) Benched: Long storage boxes are sold with tops that double as seats/benches. Not sure if there are any that are long enough to hold hurricane panels, but the ones I have seen can house sporting equipment, lawn and gardening supplies and/or outdoor equipment. For the high rise
condo owner, who is usually not permitted to keep much on the balcony, these are perfect and allow for maximum use of the balcony.

Garage:


13) Chilled Out: In addition to traditional items found in garages, I sometimes encounter refrigerators and/or freezers that are actively being used by large families to complement what is in the kitchen. Extra chilling and freezing space.


14) New Homework Assignment: I've seen quite a few garages turned into home offices and the second story of the garage turned into an additional bedroom/loft.

Underneath Stairwell:


15) Harry Potter's Bedroom: Depending upon what area of the house it's in, the space below a stairwell is a great catchall for pet carriers, large attractive containers holding blankets (or other large items.) That's where Harry Potter first slept at the Dursleys.

Murphy Bed:

16) Murphy's Law: A condo I almost purchased had artwork affixed to the wall that becomes visible once the Murphy bed is pulled out. That way, if you leave the Murphy bed open for an extended period, a visitor's eyes will be drawn to the artwork and not the fact that the bed is pulled out!


Suzy Wilkoff
Tasks Unlimited
http://www.tasksunlimited.com/

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Storage Solutions: My Bathroom Looks Like A Sports Store


An unused shower stall in one of our bathrooms has become a sports center. Hidden behind an elegant shower curtain are scooters, bikes, roller blades and other small items that once cluttered various rooms of our home. The spare shower provides a creative solution to our lack of storage.

Finding hidden storage in unconventional spaces is an ideal solution for apartment and condo dwellers or families in small homes. Even in large homes, unused bathrooms can solve many organizational challenges, according to Rivka Caroline, owner of SoBe Organized in South Florida. For instance, a spare bathtub can be converted to a small hidden laundry room, Caroline said. Here's how: install a second shower curtain rod over the tub and use that rod to hang either wet or dry laundry.

''The trick is to think unconventionally,'' Caroline said.

In other areas of the home, ornamental accessories and furniture can provide places to stash things. Near her front door, Caroline uses a beautiful antique desk to keep her family organized and equipped as they walk out the door.

She has it neatly stocked with water bottles, ear pieces for electronic gadgets, phone chargers, flashlights, rain jackets, suntan lotion and other items for family or school outings.
Elegant piano stools also offer options. If the piano is rarely used, consider using the stool for storing other items needed around the home, Caroline said.


Myscha Theriault, a contributor at http://www.wisebread.com/, a popular frugal living blog, has compiled a helpful list of unusual storage spaces.
Her list includes:

• The space below shelves. Mugs, dishes and utensils can be hung on hooks from the bottom of a kitchen shelf. That same wall space can be used for storage if pegs are installed in the wall below the shelf.
• Use ceiling racks. In the kitchen, garage and other rooms, ceiling racks offer extra layers of storage. Sold at home improvement stores, these racks are great for storing pots, holiday decorations, tools and sporting equipment, Theriault said.

But avoid creating new clutter corners, advises Suzy Wilkoff, owner of Tasks Unlimited, an organizational consulting firm in Miami. Think before storing.


This is from my latest column in the home & design section of the Miami Herald.
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Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Beyond Bag Ladies: Financial Road Kill Dangers

Last week, I wrote about my bag lady fears, a gender-specific syndrome that hits many women. But the financial road kill designation is a gender-neutral term that I have recently picked up from reading The Weekend Millionaire Mindset by Mike Summey and Roger Dawson.


"If your destined to be financial road kill on the financial highway you probably fall into one of two categories," according to the authors of The Weekend Millionaire Mindset .


Road Kill Alerts:


1) You move too quickly and fall for ill-advised money schemes, jackpot fantasies or other delusions. You, like many of us, have financial (Attention Deficit Disorder) ADD.


2) You move too slowly and spend your life working for steady wages, but with no real payoff or security. Basically, you're stuck in a risk-adverse rut. (I call it RAR!!!). This form of road kill, according to the Weekend Millionaire Mindset is too conservative to really achieve financial independence. Basically, with golden handcuffs we get chained to a desk. It's like share-cropping in that we never really get ahead.

I find that scarier than the Bag Lady Syndrome because financial road kill seems sneakier. A bag lady looks or acts like a bag lady. Even the bag ladies in pretty clothes (my personal nightmare) look a little off. The signs of disorder are there and in your face.

But financial road kill seems more dangerous to me because I could be actually dressed for success (with the right clothes, toys and home) but could be secretly stalled on the economic highway.

It's also a scary turf because many of us have been there. Indeed, when it comes to financial decisions, many of us --me too! -- have either moved too quickly or too slowly. Bottom line: I've had moments, episodes, years when I could have been a poster child for financial road kill.

Here's my anti-road kill strategy:

1) Be honest. It's bad to lie to other people. It's horrible to lie to yourself. I try to be 100 percent honest about what I'm really saving, spending and earning. That means even if I'm lying to myself, I understand that I'm lying. It's a constant dialogue that goes like this: No, Sharon. You don't need another skirt or to eat out tonight. And quite frankly, I'm still trying to spend less, while earning and saving more.


2) Understand that mistakes happen. I used to play the violin. And when I messed up in one measure, I'd be so upset that I would miss later notes. Quickly, my entire performance would deteriorate. Now if I over-shop or under-save, I try to accept and learn from my mistakes. There's no profit in beating myself up. That's a road kill move. It's better to just get up and keep moving. But look both ways next time.


3) Read a lot. It's really profitable to learn from other people's mistakes. I read magazines, blogs, newspapers, newsletters and books on money management and personal development.


4) Create a balanced plan. It's like Dancing with the Stars. If the ballroom dance routine is too easy, too risk-free, the performers lose points (Road Kill Alert). But if dancers try to do too much, too soon or if steps are too risky for their level of expertise, the dancers fall, trip or stumble: (Road Kill Alert!!) I try to be mindful of that balance between risk and reward when I plan my work assignments, spending and earning.


5) Constantly invest in myself: I've attended writing seminars, industry conferences, financial planning sessions and now graduate school. I invest in technology and professional tools. As a moving and higher-educated target, maybe I'm less likely --I hope to be--road kill.


Here are a few articles that are helpful


From Personal Finance Advice: How I Take Frequent Vacations on a Limited Budget


From My Investing Blog: How can I make more money?


From Need To Be Debt Free: Our Zero-Based Budget for December 2007

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Vacation Brain Drain:We Wasted $92 Before Fixing the Shopping Cart

Going to visit my parents can be a challenge. Mom & Dad are wonderful—love you guys!--but the Super Target near their home is a problem. The store is great: It has candy, food, yoga blocks, children’s shoes, skirts, makeup and a little silk purse that looks like a takeout container of Chinese food. So cute! I love the magazines and the dollar store section. So cheap!

And that’s a problem because when we visited my folks in late August, we went to Target and spent $92 and I don’t know you what we bought.

We had a bad case of vacation brain drain. We bought a lot of candy from the serve-yourself dispensers. I think we purchased about $30 worth of candy. Here’s the math: 15 pounds @ $2 per pound = $30.

We also bought flip flops and makeup. I had forgotten the grooming products that I needed for my parents 50th wedding anniversary party. But honestly, I don’t remember what else we purchased for $92.

Even in the parking lot, we looked through the bags and scratched our heads. Where did our money go? Even with the receipt and quick mental math, we were lost in parking lot purgatory.

Here’s what we did wrong:

1) Overspent on candy bags. Bad for the diet & budget.

2) Shopped without a list or a plan. That’s always a danger during vacations. Our normal discipline went on an extended holiday.

3) Did not pack or plan properly. Not only did we spend $92 at Target on that outing, we later shopped more to replace the dress-up clothes that we had forgotten for my older son.

But we learned from that mistake. For Thanksgiving, we went back to Central Florida and Super Target. We spent far less this time. (Under $30.)

Here’s how we fixed our vacation shopping cart problem.

1) Before the trip, we decided how much we were going to spend on different items and activities. More importantly, we actually followed the travel budget.


2) We downsized the candy bags—by a lot—and if any of the kids went over budget, they had to pay the difference. With their own money, they’re more frugal.


3) We shopped with a list.


4) We packed better. My daughter helped us pack by mapping out a list for the trip. We forgot fewer items and did not have to shop for urgent replacements.


5) I sat in the car. When others went shopping on Black Friday and on Sunday, I stayed away from temptation. During one Target run—on the way home—I even sat in the parking lot. I finally broke down and purchased a $3 tall latte from Starbucks.* But it was a very cheap shopping date for me.

*Also I no longer feel guilty about an occasional Starbucks treat because I found out that the company pays its employees great benefits, including health insurance for only 20 hours of work each week. I wrote about my Starbucks health care fantasy in this post. My latte, I believe, helps pay for someone’s health care. Okay, that’s just an excuse, but it sounds good.

Here are a few excellent posts from other bloggers about controlling the shopping impulse:

From Single Ma: A Quick Fix to Control Holiday Spending
From Not Made of Money: 2007 Black Friday - Some Thoughts and Strategies

From Million Dollar Journey: How I (try to) Save Money During Christmas



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Monday, November 26, 2007

Reader Asks: Did You Really Find Bargains on Black Friday?

A reader named Michael R. from Seattle has a question about so-called Black Friday deals in electronics. He read this column from me and his questions: Do the deals really exist? Other bloggers have posted an assortment of insights. Links are below:

While shopping for a plasma TV, Michael from Seattle found a price spike on Black Friday. Here's his experience:


"I bought a Panasonic plasma TV (42PZ77U) at Best Buy during the first week of November so I would be able to get price matching through New Year’s day based on Best Buy’s 60-day price match policy. The 42PZ77u lists for $1799. That first week of November, I bought it for $1619 (Best Buy on-line price matched at store).

The day after I bought it, Best Buy and Circuit City had it on-line for $1499. Mid-November, Best Buy had it on-line for $1299. The Saturday before Thanksgiving, Sears had it on-line for $1199 (although I couldn’t get the price match on that because it is special delivery in my area). Of course the on-line prices also included various discounts and/or freebies on various bundles and/or installation services.

On Black Friday, I checked Best Buy, Circuit City, Sears and Video Only on-line and in-store and found that the lowest price on the 42PZ77U was $1499 (in-store Video only), and at Best Buy it was back up to $1619 in-store and full price with no significant bundle option on-line.

I wonder if the higher Black Friday prices on my TV was an aberration based on the strong sales for this particular product and/or the relatively strong economy in Western Washington, or if this was some sort of national trend that deeper discounts were actually available before Black Friday, and what that might mean for Christmas and after Christmas prices.

I hope you’ll do a column on whether the forecasts were accurate and what that suggests for the rest of the holiday season.

Regards,

Michael R.
Seattle, WA

I'll check around for answers. Meanwhile, I'm asking others to please leave a comment or write to me with feedback about your Black Friday/Cyber Monday experience.

Here's a roundup of what other folks are saying about early holiday shopping:

From Boston Gal's Open Wallet: My Black Friday Adventure


I wanted to get my parents a laptop computer and after watching the sales leading up to black friday I realized some great deals would be available this year. My guess was right....

From Generation X Finance: A List of Some 2007 Cyber Monday Sales


This year, plenty of online retailers are offering some good Cyber Monday sales, so if you enjoy shopping online, Monday might be a good day to do it. So, here is list of some of the online Cyber Monday sales that I’ve come across. Obviously, some deals are better than others, but these are just some that I’ve noticed this weekend. If you know of any other good deals, please let others know in the comments.

From Seeking Alpha: LCD TV Black Friday Sales Reported Solid

From Mapgirl's Fiscal Challenge: Holiday Weekend Spending Report



From We're In Debt: Day 573: Did You Shop Black Friday Sales?
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10 Reasons Why I'll Work at Starbucks: Late Bloomers Guide to Saving: Pt. 3

My latest fantasy: I wish I had 20 hours of week to work at Starbucks. (I would gladly grind coffee beans for health coverage.) My 10 Reasons for Working at Starbucks are below.

Part-time employment is one way to catch-up with savings for slackers like me. Others use a part-time job or a second job to deal with a recurring Retirement Nightmare, namely the threat of running out of money after only 10 years into retirement. That’s a reality faced by James Barajas of California, according to an article by Julie Connelly for AARP magazine .

Barajas, age 57, worked at Verizon and earned a salary of over $50,000. His division was eliminated in 2006, but his retirement savings were not enough to cover his expenses, especially not health care insurance. The solution: he found a $27,000 a year job working as a school custodian. The new salary fills the gap and provides additional benefits.


My secret fantasy involves working at Starbucks. I'm quite serious and in the last few months, I have even walked into a Starbucks in South Beach and requested a job application. The deal-breaker: I don't really have an extra 20 hours a week, especially since I have enrolled in graduate school.

But here's why I would like to work in Starbucks:


"Partners that work full time or part time (20 hours or more per week) may participate in a variety of programs, and make choices based on individual needs and interests."--Starbucks employee benefits

1)Health Plan: Employees that work only 20 hours a week qualify for health insurance. Forget earning a minimum wage. I would actually pay Starbucks a minimum wage if they would let me into their health plan. The health care package includes:

"Healthcare Benefits: (Medical, Prescription Drugs, Dental and Vision)"-- Starbucks employee benefits

2) Access to interesting people: A shot of java-drinking people would really jump start my fiction career. It would be fun just to watch, observe and take notes on the different people and conversations that I would encounter at Starbucks. Great people watching!

3) Retirement benefits: In addition to saving my Starbucks part-time paychecks in a retirement account. I would also qualify for some retirement benefits at Starbucks.

4) Additional, non-compete income: As a freelance writer, I work a zillion different jobs: I have taught, tutored, written articles, hammered out news releases, fine tuned radio copy, reviewed books and even stood on my head.

It would be great to have an additional source of income that did not fry my brain and serving coffee fits that bill. I speak from experience. I have been a waitress and I have worked at Rizzoli bookstore in Manhattan and I loved it. Smile, take money, smile. Okay: it's not always easy, but it's way easier than other brain-draining employment efforts.

5) Free bag of coffee: All Starbucks employees get a free bag of coffee each week. That would save me at least $8 a week. We buy Eight O'Clock Coffee beans, which are great and cheap. But for free, I would drink Starbucks.

6) Coffee training program. Listen to this: "Coffee Education – A course focusing on the Starbucks passion for coffee and understanding our core product." Starbucks employee benefits There are other training programs available through the company. Here's a sample:

Business and Communication – The Starbucks Support Center (SSC) offers a variety of classes ranging from basic computer skills to conflict resolution, to management training.

7) Future Career Path: One of my former neighbors began working at Starbucks as a teenager. She even made a coffee for me at a Starbucks in downtown Miami. Ten years later, she has an important Starbucks management post in South Florida and raves about the company. Maybe if I don't get to be a college professor when I grow up, I can be a Starbucks Manager. Here's the company's description of its leadership training program:


Learning to Lead – A three level program for baristas to develop leadership skills. The program also includes store operational and effective management practice training.

8) Interesting Staff: The paid cast is pretty diverse at Starbucks. With my wild, long and graying braids, I would fit right in. The company obviously does more than pay lip service to diversity in hiring and training.


9.Free New York Times: I always see copies of the NYT (and other newspapers) at Starbucks. My fantasy: during cleanup after the shop closes each day, I could recycle a NYT copy and read it at my home.

10) Starbucks has a book club: With a book due to be published in May, I could hope and pray that Starbucks would put me on their book club menu. My book is called The Frugal Duchess of South Beach and it should be out in May. Publisher: DPL Press. I'll have more details later.

Here's a quick summary of Starbucks menu of employee benefits:


Depending on job and personal situation, a partner’s
total pay package may include:


Progressive Compensation Package
Healthcare Benefits (Medical, Prescription Drugs, Dental and Vision)
Retirement Savings Plan
Stock Options and Discount Stock Purchase Plan
Income Protection Plan
(Life and Disability Coverage)
Management Bonus Plan
Adoption Assistance Plan
Domestic partner benefits
Referral programs and support resources for child and eldercare
Discounted Starbucks merchandise
And of course, all
partners get a pound of coffee each week.


Meanwhile, it's never to late to save, but there are a few helpful tips for those of us playing catch-up. While visiting my parents, I found a copy of AARP magazine which had some great tips for late-starters in the savings game. Basically, the article (from the Sept./Oct 2007 edition) featured several individuals (ages 50-60) who had not saved too much in the past. I'm writing a series of posts based on the strategies featured in the magazine.

Here's Part 1 of this series.Top Tip: No more recreational shopping at the mall!
Part 2: Tapping a Side Business for Savings: Late Bloomers... Top Tip: Develop a small business for extra income.

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Sunday, November 25, 2007

Tapping a Side Business for Savings: Late Bloomers Guide to Saving Money: Part 2

Is it possible to play financial catch-up and increase your retirement savings by $30,000 in only two years? A side business can provide a boost to savings. That strategy worked for Linda and Arky Muscato of Arizona. The Muscatos increased their savings to $50,000 from their 2005 balance of only $20,000, according to an article by Julie Connelly for AARP magazine .


Here’s how they saved extra:

Part-time business: Developing a side business is one catchup move for late-blooming savers. While he was a teacher, Arky Muscato earned an additional $1,000 a month on a tee-shirt printing business. (He prints shirts for schools, camps and teams). After retiring, he devoted more hours to that business and more than doubled that side income to $2,500 per month, according to the AARP article.

My comment: Building a part-time business is a great source of extra income. It takes discipline to save those extra checks. This strategy is also a part of my personal finance mix.



Here's an excellent how-to article about starting a small business. My number #1 tip: pick a side business that taps into one of your passions, a hobby or an area of expertise. Choosing a part-time business based on your personal interests will give you a head start and additional motivation.


Use no-fee credit cards: For almost every purchase or expense, the Muscatos use no-fee cards that provide 2-3 percent rebates.

Pay off monthly credit-card balances. Carrying over a balance from month to month generates expensive finance charges, which negate potential savings from rebates, according to the AARP article.

The Weekend Millionaire Mindset by Mike Summey and Roger Dawson advocates a careful use of credit cards. "There's nothing wrong with using credit cards to pay for those items if you pay the bill in full when it comes due." --p. 46 The Weekend Millionaire Mindset.

But failure to pay a credit card bill in full constitutes "destructive debt," according to Summey and Dawson. I'm working on being less destructive in my use of debt.


Meanwhile, it's never to late to save, but there are a few helpful tips for those of us playing catch-up. While visiting my parents, I found a copy of AARP magazine which had some great tips for late-starters in the savings game. Basically, the article (from the Sept./Oct 2007 edition) featured several individuals (ages 50-60) who had not saved too much in the past. I'm writing a series of posts based on the strategies featured in the magazine.



Here's Part 1 of this series.
Top Tip: No more recreational shopping at the mall!
















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Stranded on Money: Lessons from My Daughter’s Curly Hair


My nine-year-old daughter has bouncy curls that are tighter, smaller and cuter than Shirley Temple’s famous curls. Her hair has taught me a lot about financial management. At best the curls catch light---especially the sweet light of the afternoon-- and dance like candle flames. At worst, the curls become matted like the tangled silken threads in one of my discarded, half-finished embroidery projects.

Here’s what my daughter’s curls have taught me about money and saving.


Daily maintenance pays: Her hair remains knot-free if it is brushed and detangled every day. Likewise, my money remains knot-free with daily maintenance, which includes a balance check, budget tinkering and other steps of well being.



Knots happen quickly. When my daughter goes to sleep with wet, unbrushed hair, she wakes up the next morning with a big ball of knotted hair. Likewise, financial tangles — a forgotten bill, a lost opportunity for savings or earnings, a bounced check-- can happen overnight when I neglect daily money maintenance.



Consult experts, peers and friends. We learned a lot about curly hair maintenance from reading different books and articles about curly hair. For my own tight nappy curls, I’ve tapped into various websites and forums that specialize in hair care for African-American women. The same process has been applied to my financial education. I read lots of publications, books and blogs about money and frugal living. I’ve listened to the lessons on financial discipline from my parents and I’ve gratefully recalled the words of wisdom from a dear friend, who used to constantly preach to me about the value of delayed gratification.



Learn from everyone, including children: When I told my daughter that I was planning to write this piece, I asked her for advice about hair care. Her words of wisdom: "Make sure you have the right stuff."



Get specifics: Hmm? That was my reaction when my daughter recommended that I write about the importance of stuff. My follow-up question: What do you mean by stuff? Her reply: the right brush, clips, conditioners and shampoos. Aha! The financial lesson: Pin down the experts and ask for specific, practical advice. Too often, I’ll read an article or hear a lecture about money that’s not real to me or not applicable to my daily life. Or maybe I just don’t understand because I have failed to ask the right questions. But to make the advice and tips work for me, I need to ask specifics and dig deeper for practical applications to my here-and-now situation.



Tap into the right tools: The Denman brush is so awesome for my daughter’s curly hair and my tight, tight curls. I love that brush! It’s great for detangling and grooming. The right conditioners and shampoos also work well for our hair. Likewise, I’ve put together my own arsenal of financials tools: the right books, a financial tracking system on my computer, the right savings plans and budgeting techniques.
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Friday, November 23, 2007

Late Bloomers Guide to Saving Money: Tips From AARP: Part 1

It's never to late to save, but there are a few helpful rules for those of us playing catch-up. While visiting my parents, I found a copy of AARP magazine which had some great tips for late-starters in the savings game.

Basically, the article (from the Sept./Oct 2007 edition) featured several individuals (ages 50-60) who had not saved too much in the past. I liked the piece, because it featured people--like me-- who have made financial errors and have become smarter about money. One couple (Margaret and Joe Woods) in the magazine grew their savings to $157,000 from the previous amount of only $38,000 in just four years. And no matter what age you are, the article offered very helpful insights and solutions.

"One of the best things about being older is that you've seen that problems have solutions--and what doesn't kill you really can make you stronger." --by Julie Connelly for AARP magazine

Here's what I've gained from the piece:

1. Be honest about budgeting. It's not enough to make a budget. You actually have to follow it, according to Margaret and Joe Woods. By honestly crunching the numbers, they realized that they were spending more money than they realized.

Likewise, I have made budgets that look great on paper, but have not worked. I realize that it takes a lot of discipline to make budgets jump from the page to the bank.

2. Don't be a recreational shopper. "We don't go to the mall anymore," Margaret said in the article. Previously, shopping was a source of entertainment. Now the couple walks, reads, creates crafts, etc.

I also find that I save more by only going to the store when necessary. I also avoid reading store flyers unless I'm really in the market for a new trinket.

3. Discuss purchases. The Woods have cut back on impulsive purchases because they now chat before they buy. "I don't buy or I discuss it with Joe," Margaret said.

4. Avoid buying new cars: The couple was able to save a big chunk of change by shifting gears on their auto strategy. For instance: Joe had planned to trade in his truck about 24 months ago, but he saved a lot by holding onto the same vehicle. Margaret needs a new car, but plans to buy a used auto instead. That's a detour from her past routes which typically involved expensive new cars.

5. Fast track education loans: They're saving a small fortune by making extra and faster payments on their son's college loans.





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My Favorite Picks from the 101 Festival of Frugality

Rather Be Shopping hosted the 101st Festival of Frugality. Excellent collection of tips. Here are a few of my favorite posts from the festival.


Force Yourself To Save! 15 Painless Ways To Pay Yourself First by Silicon Valley Blogger @ The Digerati Life

quote of note:

#6 Pretend you didn’t get a raise.So you were lucky enough to secure a raise! Congratulations! Now if you’re able to pretend you never received it and instead sock this additional money away especially in an investment account that compounds with time, you may surprise yourself further down the road with a substantial nest egg. I agree, not being able to celebrate a raise may not be that much fun, so use a small portion of it to reward yourself (but I’d avoid those big ticket items)! --The Digerati Life

FREE Land & Handsome Living Allowances! @ FIRE Finance.
quote of note:
North Dakota and Kansas are giving away free land. Alaska is offering handsome living allowances. Well if it sounds too good to be true, read on to find out for yourselves. --FIRE Finance


Get Over Yourself, Buy Used @ Philby’s Finance.
quote of note:

One reason for not buying used, which I am a little embarrassed to admit, is that my ego gets in the way. As a middle class citizen of a prosperous western country, I often feel that I don’t “have” to buy used. Under this mentality, buying used is something that is “forced” upon those without the financial means to buy new goods. Because of my higher economic status, I felt like I had the “privilege” to buy whatever new goods I wanted. --Philby’s Finance

20 Ways To Save Money At The Library by Annette @ Frugal Journey

quote of note:

I adore the library. It’s a fabulous resource for saving money. It’s full of free information, entertainment, and programs that would otherwise cost big bucks if you had to pay for them yourself. --Frugal Journey


Clothes on the Cheap @ Gather Little By Little

quote of note:

I love clothes, especially nice clothes for work but I detest paying the high prices most major stores charge. Here are some places you can get decent clothing and not pay an arm and a leg for them: --Gather Little By Little





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Wednesday, November 21, 2007

10 Non-Shopping Things to Do On Black Friday

Forget the hype and have fun on Black Friday, a national post-Thanksgiving shopping holiday. Here's my list of non-shopping, fun & frugal stuff to do instead of shopping.

1. Get more rest! Given my levels of sleep deprivation, it's crazy to get up at 4 am or 5 am to shop and save money. If I get more sleep, I'll think better. I typically wake up around 6:45 am and go to sleep around 1 am. But sleep deprivation is a dumb idea because I work smarter, save more money and work more creatively with more sleep.

And hint, when I go to those so-called holiday sales, I'm not really saving money. Maybe you save, but for me, it's all a lie I tell myself about spending & shopping. It's Enron accounting for consumers. It's self-deception. I tell myself: I'm not spending money, I'm saving money. Ha!

2. Exercise: Of course, I walk a lot when I go shopping and yes, those packages involve heavy lifting. But let's be honest. Walking through the aisles of a super big box store and jogging with a cart is not the best form of exercise. It's better for me to go on a real walk with my kids or my dog. Other alternatives: yoga, a quick run, kick-boxing or jazzercize will burn calories without burning bucks. Even washing the car or washing windows is exercise.

3. Read a book about money. Instead of spending money, I can learn about how to make money.

4. Memorize a poem. Memorizing a poem is good for the brain and the soul. Right now I'm trying to memorize two poems from E.E. Cummings called Let It Go and Somewhere I have Never Traveled.

5. Write letters to old friends, siblings, parents and other loved ones. There are a few people that I would really like to write to now. I'd tell them how much they have meant to me and how much they have added to my life and how much I will always love them. It's unconditional.

6. Open a savings account. Instead of shopping, I could open a new savings account at a bank or a credit union. I could go through the store flyers and calculate how much I might spend and then put that money in the bank.

7. Spend a day at a homeless shelter or do some other act of kindness: Not too long ago, I had a ten dollar bill in my hand. Quite frankly, I was going to buy stupid stuff: maybe a muffin and a magazine. Honestly, it was one of my non-frugal splurge moments. And then I saw this homeless woman named Marie. She's a little bit younger than me and she makes me think about how wonderful my life is and how difficult her life is.

So I just gave her the $10 bill. It was not really an act of generosity because giving made me feel better about the money that I've wasted in the past. I'm not rich; I'm struggling to pay bills, but I have so much more than maybe 90 percent of the people in this world. So I can afford to give away more. And that's how I really feel about recreational shopping. There are really, really better uses of my time and money.

8. Organize my paper piles: I'm a clutter queen, for sure. I could save money and earn more if I were better organized. There's gold buried in my paper piles. So, I plant to clean out my big purse on Black Friday.

9. Meditate. Seriously, I run around like a cartoon character. I often spin my wheels and get nowhere. I could do more if I spent more time breathing and acting mindfully. I really think clearer after meditating and deeply breathing.

10. Make a gift for someone. My mom has been making pottery gifts for her holiday gift list. It's great therapy for her hands and she's really enjoying the process.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Guest Post: "Don’t Invite the Plumber to Thanksgiving Dinner"

Here's a guest post about avoiding costly plumbing woes on Thanksgiving. It's from a news release I received with helpful tips about avoiding repair costs.


How to Avoid the Plumber on What Might Be a Day of
“Disasters”

Thanksgiving Day doesn’t often bring immediate thoughts of garbage disposals, plungers and plumbers. But for many, it quickly becomes the reality when a standard kitchen gets put into overdrive while a Thanksgiving feast is being prepared.

“Thanksgiving Day is a time for family, friends and lots of food. However, that’s a recipe that could end up with an unexpected guest – the plumber,” said David Lupberger,
ServiceMagic.com’s Home Improvement Expert, repeating his annual warning. “Thanksgiving can be one of the busiest days of the year for plumbing
emergencies.”


Lupberger says the garbage disposal is the main source of most Thanksgiving and holiday plumbing problems.

“During hours and hours of cooking, either too much waste gets thrown down the disposal or items are discarded that can’t be broken down by the disposal,” Lupberger said.

Lupberger offers these tips to avoid holiday plumbing issues:

· Make sure that everyone helping in the kitchen knows what can go into the disposal and what should not. Corn husks, grease, bones, potato skins, egg shells and lettuce are all common Thanksgiving Dinner byproducts that may lead to problems. (Frugal Duchess comment: I have a friend who uses egg shells and other food by-products to fertilize her garden. Coffee grinds are also good on soil.)

· Don’t put too much down the disposal at once. Run your disposal several times to clear out smaller amounts of waste instead of trying to clear everything at once.

· Since a typical household of four people can swell to more than a dozen, make sure all the visiting children know what shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet. With that many people making trips to the bathroom, your plumbing may be distressed in general!

Not only are T-Day plumbing emergencies an enormous inconvenience, but they could also be pricey. Plumbers don’t typically come cheap on a holiday.

“They’re leaving their homes to come to your home to take care of a problem,” Lupberger said. “That means you might expect to pay a lot more for something that might have been avoided.”


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Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Welcome MSN Smart Spending Readers!

A special welcome to MSN Smart Spending readers. Thanks for stopping by and please check out the rest of this blog. For regular visitors, I urge you to check out the MSN Smart Spending blog where my recent Bag Lady post has been featured. Special thanks to writer Karen Datko for the mention.


In addition to a link to my article, the Smart Spending post also provides helpful links about women & money, and a piece from Bankrate.com about The Bag Lady Syndrome. Check out those links on the MSN Smart Spending blog.





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Monday, November 19, 2007

Going Green Without Going Broke



From composting to recycling, a green lifestyle can seem complicated and costly. But you can still live green while saving time and money, according to Trish Riley, the Florida-based author of Complete Idiot's Guide to Green Living ( $16.95).

Riley recommends a ''one-step-at-a-time'' approach to adopting environmentally friendly choices into your lifestyle. Pick an area and gradually make greener choices in that part of your life.

Riley made reducing her family's exposure to harsh synthetic chemicals -- linked to many health problems -- a top priority. She began by taking her arsenal of harsh cleaning supplies to a hazardous waste disposal site. Now she cleans her house with safer solutions, including essential oils (drops of lavender, cedar wood, grapefruit oil) mixed with warm or hot water. Those oils -- very affordable at health food stores -- are effective cleaners with proven antimicrobial properties that kill bacteria. And they smell yummy.

Essential oils also substitute for commercial air freshener sprays and sticks. In my home, a decorative container filled with a mixture of essential oils and water provides a light scent.
''Apply the principles of aromatherapy when choosing the oil,'' Riley says.
In aromatherapy, peppermint oil is valued for stimulation; lavender oil is associated with relaxation; citrus oils (especially grapefruit and lime) are considered refreshing.
Other eco-friendly cleaning options include vinegar and water and baking soda powder. Arm & Hammer, the baking soda manufacturer, offers a room-by-room guide for cleaning with baking soda at its website: http://www.armhammer.com/.

Riley's book also features low-effort, low-cost green tips for lawn care. For example, lawn clippings provide the grass with valuable nitration and moisture. Also, clovers in your yard can be left rather than pulled as weeds because they provide the soil with nitrates.

You can save money and time by finding long-term alternatives to toss-away products. Organic cotton sacks are a safer option to the plastic bags provided by many stores.
Replace plastic water bottles with tap-filtered water and reusable stainless steel or glass bottles. You can even tote around the old-school collapsible cups that fit neatly into a purse or brief case.
These solutions eliminate the volume of plastic products that release harmful chemicals into the environment and our food.
''Everything doesn't have to be disposable,'' Riley says.

Dawn, a popular blogger at Frugal For Life (http://www.frugalforlife.blogspot.com/), recently posted a list of money-saving green solutions to everyday situations.
Her list of ''paper alternatives'' includes:
Reusable coffee filters: Rather than use 365 paper filters a year, consider purchasing reusable coffee filters that work for three years. Reusable filters are sold by online coffee supply vendors.
Cloth diapers: Make, buy or rent your own from a diaper service.
Rags, dusters and sponges: There are many long-term solutions to rip-and-toss paper towels. Turn old T-shirts, linens and towels into cleaning cloths and dusting rags.
Feminine products: Various reusable alternatives to feminine hygiene products are sold at drugstores and medical supply outlets

This is from my latest column in the home & design section of the Miami Herald.






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